Some Georgia applicants for food stamps and welfare benefits would have to pass a drug test under a state House bill that cleared committee this week.

People applying for this government assistance would require testing if they raised “reasonable suspicion” of illegal drug use, under House Bill 772.

The sponsor of the drug-testing bill, state Rep. Greg Morris, R-Vidalia, told the House Judiciary Committee he proposed his legislation after a federal court ruled against a Florida law to drug-test welfare applicants. Georgia had modeled its own law after Florida’s.

The law that was overturned had a blanket provision for testing, while Morris’ proposal is more narrowly drawn, calling for testing only under certain circumstances.

Morris said his goal is to prevent the spending of taxpayer dollars to subsidize illegal drug use. Under the bill, applicants who failed a drug test would have to pass a subsequent screening in order to get the benefits.

The drug testing bill initially targeted food stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients. It was amended to include welfare or TANF benefits, and also to set out criteria for “reasonable suspicion” of drug use that would prompt the testing.

These circumstances would include an applicant’s demeanor, missed appointments and arrests or police records, according to the bill.